Must-read indie romance: ‘Not So Nice Guy’ by R.S. Grey

Must-read indie romance: ‘Not So Nice Guy’ by R.S. Grey

If I could read an R.S. Grey book all the time, I would. In Not So Nice Guy, she compounds sensuality and uproariously funny moments, volleying between feelings of flaming secondhand embarrassment and lusty stomach-tingling moments that acutely make her a bona fide queen of romantic comedy.

In an epic friends-to-lovers trope, Sam and Ian have been best friends for three years, ever since they met at orientation at the school where they both teach, but those years have been filled with nothing but pent-up desire for each other and strong romantic feelings disguised as platonic love. But when their fellow teachers realize they haven’t actually been dating, all bets are off, and suddenly they’re fending off advances and trying to figure out ways to act on their feelings before it’s too late.

Sam and Ian have a unique friendship where stakes are high enough that they never want to rock the boat. But Sam’s the overthinker to Ian’s even-keeled and cool temper, offsetting her insecurities and zaniness with his Zen-like focus. Their relationship escalates rather quickly, maintaining the integrity of their close bond but simultaneously opening up room to maneuver and push that bond to reach its fullest potential. We are talking a Jim and Pam-style kinship on a cerebral, kismet level, plus the sheer magnitude of their fiery chemistry.

The secondary characters in the book, from the cliquey cadre of teachers who are duking it out for their affections, to the endearing students, have a huge hand in pushing them together, and while there is always cattiness and drama involved when there’s a mutual fondness over one person, Grey never lets it get too far, keeping the line between overzealous and toxic/hostile firmly intact.

One of the best takeaways from this book in relation to the trope is the balance of slow burn with spontaneity. Grey gives us a snapshot of their friendship and shenanigans without letting the romantic subtext fall to the wayside. She opens the book at a juncture where they are on the final stretches of their sanity, teetering between giving in to their feelings and retreating to the friend zone. As a result, emotional gratification comes early in the book, and we don’t have to wait too long (try more than one season of The Office) to know what Sam and Ian are like as a couple.

Readers’ hearts will be filled to capacity as they reel from “all the feels” this book offers, struggling with the decision to pace themselves or keep bingeing (I voted for the latter), their main grievance being that it’s not long enough. If you’re suffering from withdrawal, read Grey’s backlist to hold you over until her next book.

Kamrun Nesa is a blogger, writer and hopeless bookworm. Give her a good happily-ever-after and you got yourself a new best friend. She works in the publicity department at Grand Central Publishing, but will recommend only indie romances for HEA. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.